Drawn to His Flame

Kabanata 30

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Treyton's question was unanswered.

He respected my silence and I was grateful for that. I wanted to go back to the city but he insisted for us to stay the night in a small seaside lodge. Pumayag na lang din ako dahil napagod din naman ako nang husto. Pagkatapos kong kumain ng hapunan ay nagpahinga lang ako saglit at agad ding natulog.

I woke up smiling. But the smile I had on disappeared when I saw that the bed adjacent to mine was empty. It looked untouched even.

Agad akong bumangon at nilibot ang maliit na kuwartong kinuha namin ni Treyton. I checked the bathroom and saw no one inside. It just turned six in the morning but I didn't know why he's already gone. Ako ang parating nauunang magising sa aming dalawa kaya nanibago lang ako. Maybe he just woke up earlier than me?

"Good morning ho. Nakita niyo po ba ang kasama ko?" I asked the owner of the lodge when I saw her. She told me that she hadn't seen Treyton so I continued looking for the latter. Inikot ko ang buong inn at nakapunta na rin ako sa tabing-dagat pero hindi ko pa rin siya nakikita.

I shook my head when different thoughts began plaguing my mind. I really should stop overthinking. Treyton won't just leave me like this, right?

Napasabunot ako sa aking sarili. Why am I giving myself false hopes? Treyton could leave whenever he wants. He doesn't have to inform me beforehand. Sino ba naman ako para sa kanya?

Pero kahit gano'n ay pinili ko pa ring umasa. Mabilis akong bumalik sa silid namin habang nagdadasal na baka nandoon na siya. That maybe he just went out to exercise or feel the morning breeze and not vanish without a warning.

There was no one in our room when I got back, to my dismay. But I almost jumped when the sound of my ringtone echoed around the four corners of this room. I felt down again when I saw that caller wasn't Treyton but my mom. At sa hindi malamang dahilan ay bigla na lang akong nakaramdam ng kaba.

I answered the call with my clammy fingers. "Hello, Ma. Good morning. Bakit po kayo napatawag?"

"Where in Sigma are you right now?"
Nanigas ako sa aking kinaroroonan. Palakas nang palakas ang pagtambol ng puso ko sa loob ng aking dibdib. Sa pagkagulat ay wala ni isang salita ang lumabas sa aking bunganga.

"Regan Cordova." Hearing my mother's calm but cold voice made me finally spill my location. My mother only speaks like that when she's really angry. It's been years since she last talked to me like that and I swear it shook my entire being now that I get to hear it again.

I could've lied but I didn't because there's a high chance that she already knew where I was. Lying will infuriate her more.

"Stay there," she said in an icy tone before dropping the call. Hindi lang ang mga daliri ko ang nanginginig kundi buong katawan ko na. I don't even know what to do because I was confused. How did my mother know I was in here?

Ngayon ay hiniling ko na hindi na sana magpakita si Treyton. I'm afraid for myself but I'm more terrified of how my mother would react if she sees him now. Handling my mother in this state was like walking on a place full of landmines. My every move will dictate how and when she'll explode and it would be better if I was the only one present when that happens. Ayaw ko nang may madamay pa.

Hinanda ko ang sarili ko sa loob ng ilang minutong paghihintay. I reminded myself that coming here was the only thing I did wrong. I haven't done anything immoral or evil.

I expelled a deep breath before going outside. To my relief, Treyton wasn't here. Nanatili lang ang mga mata ko sa kalsada at nang makita ko na ang aming pulang kotse ay narinig ko na ulit ang pintig ng aking puso dahil sa sobrang lakas nito.